Car Alternator

Trust|Nobody

Trust|Nobody

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My alternator needs replacement.
It's a Bosch 9120690346.

I contacted Bosch, they want R4000 for a new one.
I contacted Midas, they have an Alternator for R1100 - a brand called Arrow.

Anyone have experience with this brand?
Any idea where I can get a better deal on an alternator?
 
Trust|Nobody said:
My alternator needs replacement.
It's a Bosch 9120690346.

I contacted Bosch, they want R4000 for a new one.
I contacted Midas, they have an Alternator for R1100 - a brand called Arrow.

Anyone have experience with this brand?
Any idea where I can get a better deal on an alternator?
Click to expand...

Just have the Bosch reconditioned by an Auto electrician. It will live another 10 years. Why buy new? :o
 
Pitbull said:
Just have the Bosch reconditioned by an Auto electrician. It will live another 10 years. Why buy new? :o
Click to expand...

How long will that take and how much will it cost?
That alternator has worked for 17 years.
It served me well. I think I owe it.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
How long will that take and how much will it cost?
That alternator has worked for 17 years.
It served me well. I think I owe it.
Click to expand...
Should take less than a hour, probably will take longer to take it out and put it back in. Only bearings and regulator will be replaced, except if windings got damaged.
 
Second that. An auto electrician will be able to replace the voltage regulator (including the brushes) and bearings and it’ll be like new.

I have a car which managed over 300 000 km with the alternator before it was reconditioned, and it’s done another 200 000 km since then.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
How long will that take and how much will it cost?
That alternator has worked for 17 years.
It served me well. I think I owe it.
Click to expand...

When I had to have it done on my Colt Club-cab, I dropped it off the afternoon and fetched it around mid-day the next day. Was around R 1000 iirc.
 
Colin62 said:
Second that. An auto electrician will be able to replace the voltage regulator (including the brushes) and bearings and it’ll be like new.

I have a car which managed over 300 000 km with the alternator before it was reconditioned, and it’s done another 200 000 km since then.
Click to expand...

Marvelous. My alternator has done 325000 km.
Can the reconditioning be done by a novice?
 
Trust|Nobody said:
Marvelous. My alternator has done 325000 km.
Can the reconditioning be done by a novice?
Click to expand...

Depends on what kind of "novice". Depending on the model of the alternator, replacing the regulator with the brushes can most likely be done easily, in many cases without removing the alternator. Replacing the bearings are more challenging, and most likely you will need a bearing puller for the front bearing. Since this is a critical item for the car to work (for longer than 10 minutes, at least), I would suggest not chancing it and just getting it done by someone with experience.
 
P924 said:
Depends on what kind of "novice". Depending on the model of the alternator, replacing the regulator with the brushes can most likely be done easily, in many cases without removing the alternator. Replacing the bearings are more challenging, and most likely you will need a bearing puller for the front bearing. Since this is a critical item for the car to work (for longer than 10 minutes, at least), I would suggest not chancing it and just getting it done by someone with experience.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
So I have one of two options:
1. Buy a new Arrow brand alternator for R1000 from Midas or
2. Repair my existing Bosch for the same price

Can we have a vote?
 
i'd go new arrow. but also it depends on what exactly is wrong with the bosch one. long time ago i replaced my car's alternator not knowing it only needed new brushes.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
Thanks.
So I have one of two options:
1. Buy a new Arrow brand alternator for R1000 from Midas or
2. Repair my existing Bosch for the same price

Can we have a vote?
Click to expand...

2 Wins by a wide margin.
 
I forgot to mention this piece of background information:

This all started over the Easter weekend last week.
We had electricity cables stolen in our area and there was no power for 48 hours.

That drove me nuts.
I was so desperate to charge my phone that I connected it to the cigarette lighter in the car. I never did this before, although I had the phone connection cable.

It took about 30 minutes to get to 10% charge while driving.
I stopped after 10%.
Immediately after this the discharge warning light came on.
This was Monday. I've been having problems with the alternator ever since.

Could my cellphone have caused some other error elsewhere in the car?
I checked all the fuses and none is blown.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
I forgot to mention this piece of background information:

This all started over the Easter weekend last week.
We had electricity cables stolen in our area and there was no power for 48 hours.

That drove me nuts.
I was so desperate to charge my phone that I connected it to the cigarette lighter in the car. I never did this before, although I had the phone connection cable.

It took about 30 minutes to get to 10% charge while driving.
I stopped after 10%.
Immediately after this the discharge warning light came on.
This was Monday. I've been having problems with the alternator ever since.

Could my cellphone have caused some other error elsewhere in the car?
I checked all the fuses and none is blown.
Click to expand...

Sounds like your voltage regulator gave in.

On some Bosch alternators you can just take it out with a single screw and replace it with a part from a Parts shop. I'll have a look at that model number you gave.

Nope, it's a sealed unit. Have it reconditioned!
 
Pitbull said:
Sounds like your voltage regulator gave in.

On some Bosch alternators you can just take it out with a single screw and replace it with a part from a Parts shop. I'll have a look at that model number you gave.

Nope, it's a sealed unit. Have it reconditioned!
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I'm going to remove my alternator, take it to Midas and compare it to the Arrow brand. If they are of comparable quality I may buy the Arrow one. And I'll keep the old Bosch just incase something goes wrong, I can always recondition it and use it again.

What do you all think?
 
Trust|Nobody said:
Thanks!
I'm going to remove my alternator, take it to Midas and compare it to the Arrow brand. If they are of comparable quality I may buy the Arrow one. And I'll keep the old Bosch just incase something goes wrong, I can always recondition it and use it again.

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Your Bosch lasted 350k because it was a Bosch...

I will never buy an Arrow, but it's your money :p
 
Pitbull said:
Your Bosch lasted 350k because it was a Bosch...

I will never buy an Arrow, but it's your money :p
Click to expand...

But all these things are made in China.
The Arrow and Bosch alternator could even be made in the same factory in China. Just different names slapped on.
 
If time is a big problem then get the arrow and take the Bosch in to get reconned. The arrow wont be as good as the Bosch but it will do for a while.

Otherwise take the Bosch in.
 
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